Sex Difference in the Associations among Hyperuricemia with New-Onset Chronic Kidney Disease in a Large Taiwanese Population Follow-Up Study.

The global prevalence and incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) continue to increase. Whether hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for renal progression and whether there are sex differences in the relationships between serum uric acid (UA) and a decline in renal function are unclear. Therefore, in this longitudinal study, we aimed to explore these relationships in a large cohort of around 27,000 Taiwanese participants in the Taiwan Biobank (TWB), and also to identify serum UA cutoff levels in men and women to predict new-onset CKD.

Effect of nephrology referrals and multidisciplinary care programs on renal replacement and medical costs on patients with advanced chronic kidney disease: A retrospective cohort study.

Evidence-based studies have revealed outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease that differed depending on the design of care delivery. This study compared the effects of 3 types of nephrology care: multidisciplinary care (MDC), nephrology care, and non-nephrology care. We studied their effects on the risks of requiring dialysis and the differences between these methods had on long-term medical resource utilization and costs.

Association of Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity and Cardiomegaly With Aortic Arch Calcification in Patients on Hemodialysis.

Aortic arch calcification (AoAC) is associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in end-stage renal disease population. AoAC can be simply estimated with an AoAC score using plain chest radiography. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association of AoAC with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and cardiomegaly in patients who have undergoing hemodialysis (HD).

Heart Rate Variability Change Before and After Hemodialysis is Associated with Overall and Cardiovascular Mortality in Hemodialysis.

Low heart rate variability (HRV) has been recognized to correlate with adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in hemodialysis (HD) patients. It has been reported that HRV might be improved after HD, but whether the improved HRV after HD predicts a better CV prognosis remains to be determined. This study examined the ability of the change in HRV before and after HD in predicting overall and CV mortality in HD patients.

Link between Peripheral Artery Disease and Heart Rate Variability in Hemodialysis Patients.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) and low heart rate variability (HRV) are highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients, and both are associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study aims to examine the suggested relationship between PAD and HRV, and the relationship of parameters before and after hemodialysis. This study enrolled 161 maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Mediastinal hematoma caused by central venous catheterization: a rare cause of obscure blood loss.

Gastrointestinal hemorrhage, internal bleeding beyond the gastrointestinal tract and hemolysis are common causes of blood loss in intensive care unit patients. However, mediastinal hematoma is a rare cause of blood loss and is not usually detected. Here, we report a patient who developed a mediastinal hematoma resulting from central venous catheterization who presented with obscure blood loss refractory to blood transfusion.

Determinants of peripheral arterial stiffness in patients with chronic kidney disease in southern Taiwan.

High prevalences of peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD) and increased arterial stiffness have been reported in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, these have not been assessed in Taiwan where the prevalence of CKD is high. The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of PAOD and arterial stiffness in patients with CKD in southern Taiwan.

Associated risk factors for abnormal ankle-brachial index in hemodialysis patients in a hospital.

Ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a marker for peripheral artery disease and can predict mortality in hemodialysis patients. However, it is seldom studied in southern Taiwan, an area with high prevalence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors for peripheral artery disease in the ESRD population in a hospital.

Slowing renal function decline in chronic kidney disease patients after nephrology referral.

Aim: Late referral of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients to nephrologists is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and is still quite common and seldom studied in Taiwan because of unique sociocultural factors. We aimed to study the decline in renal function and factors related to the change in renal function before and after referral.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the changes of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in 213 new referrals of patients with CKD stages 3-5 to the nephrology divisions of one medical centre and one regional hospital from 2001-2006.

Comparison of ankle-brachial index and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity between patients with chronic kidney disease and hemodialysis.

Background/aims: Patients with chronic renal failure are highly predisposed to atherosclerosis. However, there is limited data about the direct comparison of atherosclerosis between patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hemodialysis. The aim of this study was to compare ankle-brachial index (ABI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) between patients with CKD and hemodialysis and thus examined the status of peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD) and arterial stiffness between them.